16 July

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Lawyer faces jail for failing to pay money to client

A senior attorney is facing the prospect of potentially being jailed for contempt of court after she failed to abide by a court order to repay a little over $200,000 to a former client. On Tuesday, lawyers representing Charlene Roberts filed a contempt of court application against attorney Dawn Seecharan-Nancoo. According to the court filings, obtained by Guardian Media, in November 2016, Roberts retained Seecharan-Nancoo to obtain a grant of probate in relation to the estate of a deceased relative. Seecharan-Nancoo allegedly instructed Roberts to pay her legal fees and place the estate’s $292,243.49 in an escrow account to be managed by her...

16 July

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Tobago stakeholders express mixed views about opening of borders

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in Newspaper Articles, Tobago Business Chamber

Tobago stakeholders have expressed mixed views about the reopening of the country’s borders on Saturday. While some members of the business community are adopting a wait-and-see approach, others said it makes no sense for the borders to be reopened if the beaches and bars are still closed. The Tobago Hotel and Tourism Association (THTA) said it is cautiously optimistic about the TT travel pass system, which will manage entry into the country. On Wednesday, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister Stuart Young described the travel pass as a robust platform. He said those who meet the requirements to enter the country must...

14 July

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Lawyer warns employers: Not rostering unvaccinated workers can land you in court

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in Newspaper Articles

While employers can encourage their employees to take the COVID-19 vaccine, attorney Martin George says not rostering them to work could land them in the courthouse. He was speaking on the controversial topic on CNC3’s The Morning Brew programme yesterday. This comes as food businesses such as Prestige Holdings and Mario’s took a position that workers must be vaccinated to return to work. While the Government has been sending messages and signals, George said it has not made a clear decision on whether they are going to make vaccination mandatory because it is not an easy decision. He said, “And they know it is...

29 June

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Tobago Chamber: Outline covid19 protocols for foreigners

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in Newspaper Articles

The Tobago Business Chamber has called for more specifics from the Prime Minister on covid19-related guidelines for foreigners wishing to visit Trinidad and Tobago when borders reopen on July 17. At a news conference on Saturday, Dr Rowley said TT citizens or legal residents abroad who are fully vaccinated with a World Health Organization-approved vaccine, and who present a negative PCR test not older than 72 hours before arrival, will be allowed to enter TT without hindrance. Citizens abroad who are unvaccinated must present a negative PCR test – not older than 72 hours – before entery and undergo mandatory state-supervised quarantine...

23 June

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Former PSC member concerned about proposals for a new top cop selection process

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in Newspaper Articles

Former member of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Martin George, is agreeing with the Opposition Leader that changes to the process for selecting a Commissioner of Police being proposed by Government, may need some revision, especially to ensure the independence of the PSC, itself. One of the new amendments has the PSC recruiting candidates and creating a merit list, which is then submitted to the President, instead of having the names of the highest-ranked candidates brought before the Parliament for debate. Opposition Leader, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, notes that the 2021 Order does not give the President the discretion to determine which candidate’s name...

22 June

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Tribunal into doctor’s ‘racist rant’ set for July 2

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in Newspaper Articles

The first hearing of the Medical Board's tribunal into the alleged racist conduct of Philippine-based physician Dr Avinash Sawh is on July 2.In a letter sent to Sawh and his attorney Martin George, the Board's attorney, Rajiv Persad of Allum Chambers, indicated that the hearing would be virtual and requested an email address for Sawh and his representatives to facilitate the hearing. The tribunal does not propose to begin the hearing of the substantive matter on July 2. However, it will use the occasion to explain the procedure and give directions for the filing of any preliminary issues for the...

21 June

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2 charges of ‘infamous and disgraceful conduct’ for doctor in race-talk probe

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in Newspaper Articles

DR AVINASH Sawh faces two charges of “infamous and disgraceful” conduct. Sawh, who was accused of making racist statements in phone calls with a former employee, has also been told the Medical Board has set up a tribunal. The board hopes the tribunal can hold its first meeting on July 2. The board’s attorney Rajiv Persad told the San Fernando-based doctor of the board’s latest decision on the allegations against him on Friday. It is alleged that Sawh’s conduct in the recording of the telephone call “may have amounted to infamous and disgraceful conduct under Section 24 of the Medical Board Act,” and that...

11 June

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Court grants injunction blocking NPTA meeting

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SATURDAY’S general council meeting of the National Parent Teachers Association (NPTA) is off. Late on Thursday, Justice Kevin Ramcharan granted an injunction to members of the association, represented by the law firm of Martin George and Company. The injunction was pursued by former NPTA president and St George PTA president Zena Ramathali and her team, who have alleged that Saturday’s meeting was “illegally and fraudulently” called. The court will now have to decide which team is the legally constituted body. In 2019, less than two months before the NPTA elections, the association’s general council removed its national executive committee. A member of the general council...

11 June

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Lawyer for doctor in race-talk probe: Respect the process

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in Newspaper Articles

ATTORNEYS for Dr Avinash Sawh have asked for the process to be respected with regard to the Medical Board’s investigation of him. He has been accused of making racist statements in phone calls with a former employee. Attorney Martin George, who leads a team from the law firm Martin George and Company, which is representing Sawh, gave an update on the issue on Thursday. He said the team submitted a 258-page response to the board, "refuting each and every allegation and claim and complaint” against Sawh, and providing reasons in law and fact as to why there should not be any further...

23 May

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Tobago pensioners go after ex-THA assemblyman for $.4m

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in Newspaper Articles

ATTORNEYS for an elderly Tobago couple are going after former assemblyman Handel Beckles of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) for close to $.4 million he owes them for breach of contract and fraudulent misrepresentation. Beckles, his aunt Merle Beckles-Benjamin and their church Impact Ministries were ordered in 2019 ordered to repay pensioners Fitzroy and Cordella Pantin a total of $399,594.12. The Pantins had gone to court to recover the money. On Thursday, the couple’s attorneys wrote to Chief Secretary of the THA Ancil Dennis to say Beckles was a registered judgment debtor and since the former assemblyman has failed to pay,...